Bible contradictions?

[Railroad]

Ok, not trying to pizz of the believers but I am really tired of the "My way or the highway" mentality of religeons.

And I don't know about 2A, but I'm tired of discussing it. It is what it is.

 

[crabcake]

Reading things like this:

I'm comfortable with "God." Since there is only one true God, I have no trouble knowing whom I'm talking about.

and other posts in this religion forum remind me of Muslim extremists. In regards to this post, specifically, I think "How closeminded and racist-like." Who are you to tell someone who doesn't believe in your god that they are wrong ... that who/what they believe isn't right or that their god doesn't exist in the same capacity as yours? What makes you and your beliefs so supreme? Who really knows for sure? Nobody alive today ... so you can't in fact make a statement like that; rather, it's your belief. It's no different IMO than the way people chose to deny blacks the right to vote ... simply cuz they looked different. Or telling the handicapped kid on the playground they can't play dodgeball with your group of jock friends b/c they have a disability. Heck, it's not even so much that you appear to close your mind to the possibility that another (or perhaps more) supreme being may exist ... it's that you don't extend a simple thing called "respect" to people who don't share your exact views.

I don't recall ever denying the existence of any supreme being; I've asked questions, posed my thoughts/beliefs (and in most cases, lack thereof), etc., but I've never said that your god is bogus cuz I don't think he exists.

And to respond with this:

And I don't know about 2A, but I'm tired of discussing it. It is what it is.

just validates what Mike posted ... that "My way or the highway" mentality does very little to promote your beliefs or present an understanding case for "your God".

Ya'll don't realize -- no matter how many times it's been said on here -- that just the way ya'll say/post things makes a lot of difference in its reception. And it does very little to 'sell' your stance.

 

[slotted]

And I always likened it to this, because it makes a perfect parallel - the perspective of God in the Old Testament is you looking at your parents when you were five;

When you were immature, your Dad was someone who made rules, punished you if you got out of line and you did not DARE to upset him.

Gawd is unfit to be a parent. Somebody call CPS!!!

*Dad didn't drown the whole world, (save one family), because he had failed with what he created.

*Dad didn't constantly command his kids to go to war, explicitly commanding to make sure every man, woman, and child was killed as well.

*Dad didn't slay all the firstborn in Egypt because he was pissed at one guy.

*Dad didn't kill himself, in order to appease himself, for something he created himself.

Shall I go on?

When you got older, you understood that every rule and most of those 'harsh' actions were always intended by a very loving parent to protect you and guide you.

Yeah, real loving.

 

[Railroad]

Ya'll don't realize -- no matter how many times it's been said on here -- that just the way ya'll say/post things makes a lot of difference in its reception. And it does very little to 'sell' your stance.

Y'all don't have to buy it. And if y'all don't like the answers, y'all don't have to ask the questions.

This is one of the main reasons I got my own forum; I can post the truth there and if folks can't handle it, they don't have to visit my forum.

I'm all about not "casting my pearls before swine."

 

[migtig]

Okay, I always had a couple of issues that bugged more than others - or rather they stand out in my mind as
Why does the God of the bible "say" things like "I'm a jealous God" "You shall have no other god before me", if he is the ONLY god?! I think that is rather contradictory. :shrug:

 

[nomoney]

Y'all don't have to buy it. And if y'all don't like the answers, y'all don't have to ask the questions.

This is one of the main reasons I got my own forum; I can post the truth there and if folks can't handle it, they don't have to visit my forum.

I'm all about not "casting my pearls before swine."

oink oink

 

[migtig]

Y'all don't have to buy it. And if y'all don't like the answers, y'all don't have to ask the questions.

This is one of the main reasons I got my own forum; I can post the truth there and if folks can't handle it, they don't have to visit my forum.

I'm all about not "casting my pearls before swine."

You are a rather hateful man aren't you? Don't you want to share your joy and love, or do you not have any as it appears by your above statement? Just because somebody doesn't agree or understand, doesn't mean you shouldn't share joy and love and friendship and knowledge. But you make it seem as if you don't have any. That's sad. Go to your other forum and talk about us swines. I am sure that will make you a better person than us.

 

[Railroad]

Okay, I always had a couple of issues that bugged more than others - or rather they stand out in my mind as
Why does the God of the bible "say" things like "I'm a jealous God" "You shall have no other god before me", if he is the ONLY god?! I think that is rather contradictory. :shrug:

Lots of folks worship other "gods." Booze, money, make-believe gods, etc. Worshiping them is a no-no.

 

[Railroad]

You are a rather hateful man aren't you? Don't you want to share your joy and love, or do you not have any as it appears by your above statement? Just because somebody doesn't agree or understand, doesn't mean you shouldn't share joy and love and friendship and knowledge. But you make it seem as if you don't have any. That's sad. Go to your other forum and talk about us swines. I am sure that will make you a better person than us.

Don't bite your tail too hard when you catch it - it might hurt!

 

[crabcake]

Y'all don't have to buy it. And if y'all don't like the answers, y'all don't have to ask the questions.

This is one of the main reasons I got my own forum; I can post the truth there and if folks can't handle it, they don't have to visit my forum.

It's not that I don't "like" the answers. It's that many of them just don't make sense or are contradictory. If (your) God is so almighty, powerful, etc., you'd think he'd also be blessed with common sense. :shrug: And I'm not intentionally singling you, Railroad, out here. I just know if I quote 2A, I'll be called a low-life scum of the earth (again) for not : to his words/beliefs.

That's wise (the forum) But if you post your opinions/beliefs here, you should also be prepared to discuss/defend/explain them as well, or else don't get mad when someone does question it.

 

[crabcake]

Lots of folks worship other "gods." Booze, money, make-believe gods, etc. Worshiping them is a no-no.

Make-believe gods? Who determines what is a "make believe" god?

 

[migtig]

Don't bite your tail too hard when you catch it - it might hurt!

See, was that nice? Did that portray a charitable and hospitable act on your behalf? Is that treating others with kindness? Did it make you humble? Did it show love for others? Just curious? Does it make you feel big and great and all powerful? Was it petty and malicious? Maybe you need to look within before you start projecting outward. Or continue to insult me and the others here if it makes you feel good about yourself.

 

[crabcake]

See, was that nice? Did that portray a charitable and hospitable act on your behalf? Is that treating others with kindness? Did it make you humble? Did it show love for others? Just curious? Does it make you feel big and great and all powerful? Was it petty and malicious? Maybe you need to look within before you start projecting outward. Or continue to insult me and the others here if it makes you feel good about yourself.

c'mon mig ... get with the program. it's okay to call people names so long as you seek forgiveness afterward.

 

[SamSpade]

Why does the God of the bible "say" things like "I'm a jealous God" "You shall have no other god before me", if he is the ONLY god?! I think that is rather contradictory. :shrug:

Two things, both of which I suspect you know already, but I thought I'd add it.

The first is the obvious one; when you're dealing with a group of ignorant slaves from bondage in Egypt, who decided to worship a calf and make up their own rituals - when years later, they actually made a god of the bronze serpent that Moses made and called it "Nehushtan" - for pity's sake, these folks are just simply unwilling to give up the idea that there's only one God. You and I believe there's only one, if there's one at all - but they clearly weren't. God was simply addressing the obvious ignorance of the people. It was insulting, years later, to the pagan peoples around the Jews, because the Jews' beliefs to them were intolerant - because they believed they worshipped the ONLY God. But it took hundreds of years to wipe it out.

The other reason is more relevant, and probably just as obvious - a God doesn't have to be a supreme being - it can be anything you place ahead of God. This is addressed often enough in the Bible, the most familiar being the story of the rich young ruler, where Jesus declares "you cannot serve both God, and mammon (i.e. money)". Similarly, in Eph 5:5, idolatry is equated with immorality and greed - worship of self or worship of wealth. So it's a legitimate concern.

 

[migtig]

Make-believe gods? Who determines what is a "make believe" god?

Exactly, that's why it's contradictory. Afterall, other gods are mentioned in the bible which had been worshiped as well, right?

 

[migtig]

Two things, both of which I suspect you know already, but I thought I'd add it.

The first is the obvious one; when you're dealing with a group of ignorant slaves from bondage in Egypt, who decided to worship a calf and make up their own rituals - when years later, they actually made a god of the bronze serpent that Moses made and called it "Nehushtan" - for pity's sake, these folks are just simply unwilling to give up the idea that there's only one God. You and I believe there's only one, if there's one at all - but they clearly weren't. God was simply addressing the obvious ignorance of the people. It was insulting, years later, to the pagan peoples around the Jews, because the Jews' beliefs to them were intolerant - because they believed they worshipped the ONLY God. But it took hundreds of years to wipe it out.

The other reason is more relevant, and probably just as obvious - a God doesn't have to be a supreme being - it can be anything you place ahead of God. This is addressed often enough in the Bible, the most familiar being the story of the rich young ruler, where Jesus declares "you cannot serve both God, and mammon (i.e. money)". Similarly, in Eph 5:5, idolatry is equated with immorality and greed - worship of self or worship of wealth. So it's a legitimate concern.

Good point of view. Thanks for sharing.

 

[vraiblonde]

and other posts in this religion forum remind me of Muslim extremists.

Back up. When 2A and Railroad start carbombing people and flying planes into buildings, then you can say they remind you of Muslim extremists.

I don't really care to engage in debates about the existence of God - 2A and other Christians can believe what they want and it's no skin off me. I just like to discuss religion, much like I enjoy politics. It deals with human nature, and therefore is interesting to me.

What I find irritating is not being able to express myself for fear of being attacked by the fundies. And it's equally irritating when someone engages merely to disparage and sneer instead of have a civil, respectful conversation.

"You're going to hell, loser!"
"Well, you're no better than a Muslim carbomber!"

That sort of thing is not conducive to good discussion. I should start my own private religion forum and only invite Sam and Tonio - they're the only sane ones when it comes to this topic.

 

[crabcake]

Another thought ...

Lots of folks worship other "gods." Booze, money, make-believe gods, etc. Worshiping them is a no-no.

I'd love to be a :flyonthewall: in a home where one worships the bible while the other worships the bottle.

 

[SamSpade]

That sort of thing is not conducive to good discussion. I should start my own private religion forum and only invite Sam and Tonio - they're the only sane ones when it comes to this topic.

Cool. You can be my high priestess!

 

[2ndAmendment]

Again, people attacking the messenger. It is not Railroad's way or my way or the highway. It is God's way or the highway. He said it. I didn't. I only quoted it.

I believe. Others choose not to. If they have issues with what I believe, that is their problem, not mine. If they have issues with the Bible, that is their problem, not mine. If they have issues with God, that is their problem, not mine.

There are no contradictions in the Bible.